Getting Home as a Stowaway

For some context: the author, Benny Ferencz, was the last surviving prosecutor of the Nuremberg war crimes trials (in the aftermath of WWII). He passed away just a couple days ago on April 7th.

More about his life from his Wikipedia page: I once saw DPs [displaced persons] beat an SS man and then strap him to the steel gurney of a crematorium. They slid him in the oven, turned on the heat and took him back out. Beat him again, and put him back in until he was burnt alive. I did nothing to stop it. I suppose I could have brandished my weapon or shot in the air, but I was not inclined to do so. Does that make me an accomplice to murder? You know how I got witness statements? I'd go into a village where, say, an American pilot had parachuted and been beaten to death and line everyone one up against the wall. Then I'd say, "Anyone who lies will be shot on the spot." It never occurred to me that statements taken under duress would be invalid.

This is such a good read. Someone recommended these notes in the other thread about his passing, merely noting that it was worth a read. I wished they said why it was worth a read. I was about to click away, but then I figured this impressive person’s writing was worth a few minutes of my time and that I could immediately go back to scrolling aimlessly. Now I can report back that it is indeed worth a read.

It’s truly a well written and humorous accounting of an epic and notable life. I highly recommend reading the other sections, there’s a lot more wonderful stories here

This was wonderful. Thank you for submitting it here!